Clifford roberts



June 4, 1929. Rom-rs 1,715,626

HEEL ASSEMBLY Filed June 14, 1924 M' T mwn um i V ,w

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Patented June 4, 192d.

UNITED STATES 1715,62; PATENT OFFICE;

oLrEEoEn ROBERTS, or nEreA'rE, ENGLAND, AssreNoR, BY'MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, *ro

UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF rA-rEnsoN, NEW JERSEY, ACOR- IPOBA'IION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEEL ASSEMBLY.

Application filed June 14, 1924. Serial No. 719,946.

The present invention relates to heels for boots and shoes and more particularly to complete heel assemblies embodying a lower or-tread lift of rubber or similar material which may readily be attached during the manufacture of the boot or shoe. I

In attaching tread lifts of rubber or similar material during the manufacture of shoes it is customary to assemble and attach the intermediateor upper leather lifts and rand to the shoe by one nailing operation and subsequently secure the rubber tread lift to the heel base so formed by a separate nailing and cementing operation. In certain cases the rubber lift, together with the intermediate liftsofleather or equivalent material, are assembled and retained in position for attaching by nails, cement pegs, or equivalent means,'and the composite heel bodyincluding all of the lifts is thereafter attached to the shoe by a single nailing operation.

It is the object ofthe present invention to provide a form ofheel assemblywhich will simplify and reduce the cost of heels provided with-a rubber tread lift.

With this and other objects in View, one

' feature ofthe present invention contemplates the provision of a rubber tread lift having a core memberprovidedwith a projection extending upwardly from the attaching face an amount approximating the thickness of the combined intermediate lifts and rand interposed between the rubber lift and the heel base of the shoe. A properly shaped lift or lifts of leather or equivalent material may be assembled with the heel in a manner to engage with the projecting core and be retained thereby in proper relation to the heel. The tread member and intermediate lift or lifts may then be attached to the boot or shoe by a single nailing operation and with out the use of cement or similar holding vmaterial. The provision of a heel member of this form cooperating with suitably shaped intermediate lifts facilitates handling of the heel assembly during the attaching operation, provides a tight edge, and dispenses with the necessity of double nailing of the heel assembly to the boot or shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heel of rubber or similar material which may be standardized as to shape irrespective of variations in the curvature of. the heel seat of different styles of shoes and attached to various styles of shoes by merely mterposing rand members shaped in accordance with the desired shape of heel seat.

With this object in View, a further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a heel assembly consisting of a whole heel of rubber or similar'material and arand'of leather or equivalent material interposed between the attaching face of the whole heel, and the heel base of the boot or shoe, the mud preferably being retained in assembled relation with respect to the heel'by a projection tread member shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a longitudinal-(section of the tread member shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the heel assembly attached to a boot or shoe; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the assembly shown in Fig. 5 with leather lift; and Fig.- 7 is a longitudinal section of the same assembly.

As indicated clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and i of the drawings, alift of rubber or [similar material is indicated at 10, this lift having a plywood core 12 bonded therein and firmly united to the rubber body, as clearly described in certain copending applications previously filed by applicant. The lift 10 may be slightly curved about the marginal portion, as indicated at 14, to form a relatively close joint with the adjoining liftthrough distortion of the body. Extending upwardly from the plywood core 12 is' a projection 16 of plywood or similar material. This projection is preferably located centrally ofthe heel body and is somewhat smaller in area than the main body of the plywood core. The up ward extension of the projection 16 approximates the thickness of theintermediate lift or lifts and rand employed in the complete .heel assembly. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a single lift 20 is em- 20 may be readily assembled with the tread member ldand held in place by engagement of the'projection 16 with the inside of the recess. The assembled heel may then be -attached to the boot or shoe bya singlesseries o'fnails, as indicated generally at22, without the necessity of employing cement or equivalent material. Such a heel not on} facilitates the assembling and securing the various lifts to the bootor shoebut in addition represents a savin of leather which is substantial. It -will. e evident to those skilled in the-art fromian inspection of Fig 2 thatrvthe intenmediate lift 20 which may be ofdoathenconsists of a generally horse shoe shaped strip having the general form of a rand. This strip is interposed between the marl: portions. of :the tread member and the ch10! shoe and is of sufiicient width to afi'ord the desired nailingarea. The materia-lremoved informing the recessed opening ma berutilized for the production of other an' similar lifts by proper cutting of the sheet ofvma/terial. in a manner which -wi1lbe evident to those skilled in the art. Figs. 5 to? inclusive of the drawings illustrate the improved, form of heel-assembly as actually attachedto a boot or shoe, in .this case, the-heel end of the sole being indicated at 25-as-forming acurved heelseat or base. The heeliassambly consisting of the lift 20.0f1leather or other suitable material and the-tread member '10 is tottanhedtofltheheelseat of the shoe throughiasingleseries of nails 22, the. slight rdistortion ofi the tread'member in attaching theboot or shoe serving tomaintain a close margin between the; tread member. l and the intnrrnediate lift-20 without'the use .of-ce- .ment.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with what is ordinarily termed a half heel, the heel being completed throughthe use of one or more intermediate lifts and a rand, it

will be evident to those skilled in theart, that the tread member. may consist of.substantially a whole heel with merelya thin rand member interposed between the margin of the heel and the heel seat of the shoe inidieatedat 25. siln this case, the projection 16 may be relatively shallow and of suflic-ient depth :primarily to -engage and retain the rand in'assembledrelation during theiattaehing operation. Such an arrangement would permit the .manufacture of standardized whole-heels either with a flatattaohingfiface or an attachingfacewitha slightcurvature, the variation in curvature of. difienmt iheel seats being; cmnpensaited through different shaped rand members.

While it. is preferredwto. employ *the :specific construction and zarran menttof parts shown and described,v it will be iunderstood that-this construction and .arra 1m nt is not essentialiexcept so fares speci edi linrthe claim-and may be changed or modified without departing' fa'om the broader ifeaturessof the, invention. Q

'Whatiis claimediis:

A heel tor boots orshoescomprising-a heel body ofrubber or similar material? having e core, bonded therein rwithien upwardly extending prejeetion, andtone ori-mea'e-intermediate lifts superimposed above; the .heel body and having an opening vsurrounding and engaging the projection .to maintain the two members :in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof el-vhave .7 signed my nameito'this specification.

" GLIFFQRD ROBERTS. 

